Time recorder



F. Q. RAST TIME RECORDER Dec. 7, 1943.

Original Filed July '7, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.1.

F. Q. RAST TIME RECORDER Dec. 7, 1943.

Original Filed July '7, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F|G.Z.

/ INVENTOR BY ATTORNEY F. Q. RAST TIME RECORDER Dec. 7, 1943.

FIG.4.

A TTORNE Y F. Q. RAST TIME RECORDER Dec. 7, 1943.

Original Filed July 7, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Dec. 7, 1943. F.Q. RAST 2,335,964

TIME RECORDER Original Filed July 7, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYPatented Dec. .7, 1943 TIME REooRnER Frederick Qulntus Rast,Blngliamton, N. 2., assignor to International Business MachinesCorporation, New York, N. Y.-, a corporation oi New York Originalapplication July 7, 1938, 'Serial No. 217,955. Divided and thisapplication January 26, 1940, Serial No. 315,732

(Cum-297) 4 Claims:

This invention relates to time recorders and, more particularly, torecorders of the type in which a card is inserted to receive anautomatic time registration thereon. The instant case is a. division ofmy application, Serial No. 217,955, filed July 7, 1938, now Patent No.2,281,998, and is primarily concerned with the automatic printingfeatures of the time recorder shown and described in that application.

It is the principal object, therefore, to provide such a time recorderas will eliminate the necessity of all the customary manual operationsexcept the operation of inserting the card to receive the timeprintings.

More specifically, it is the object of the present invention to providean improved automatic time printing mechanism which operates rapidly andpositively upon insertion of a time card into printing position, saidprinting mechanism including a normally cocked hammer which is triggeredoil upon insertion of the card and motor-operated restoring mechanismwhich is immediately called into operation to recock the hammer. It isimportant that the printing operation occur rapidly so as to permit along line of employees to advance past the recorder with only theminimum of delay as each makes hi recording. Rapid printing also insuresthat the recording will occur before the employee can remove his cardand, furthermore, that such recording will occur in the proper portionof the card.

According to the invention, an automatic registration on a time card iseffected by inserting the card a proper distance in the card receiverand exerting a slight downward pressure on the card. The inserted cardoperates a train of mechanism which close a contact switch so as toenergize a solenoid. Energization of the solenoid causes tripping of thehammer which is then propelled swiftly toward the type elements by apowerful spring toeiiect printing. The combined action of the armatureof the energized solenoid and the forward movement of the hammer bringsabout the closure of another contact switch and the simultaneoustripping of a clutch to call in a normally idle motor for operation todrive the hammer back to its normally cocked position. The clutch is ofthe one revolution type and arrangement is made for deenergizing themotor automatically'just before the end of one clutch revolution, atwhich time the hammer has been restored.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the machine taken just in front ofthe card holder.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22'of Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a portion of the machine showing part ofthe driving mechanism. F Figs. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4of Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken transversely to the card holder soas to show the printing mechanism. in side elevation.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

F Fig]. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 9 is a verticalsection on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a simplified wiring diagram.

The time card is inserted downwardly into a card holder I15 havingchanneled lateral guides 231, 238. to guide the card between a typewheel 8| and the platen 2290, of an impression hammer 229. A ribbon I issupported between the type wheel BI and the card, at the point where theplaten strikes. The bottom edge of the card operates against one arm ofa small bell crank I (Fig. 5), the other arm of which rocks a verticalbail I96 (see also Fig. 6)

- which is pivotally mounted on a supporting member I91. The purpose ofthe bail I96 is to Permit the operation of the print contacts 200regardless of the position of an abutment 3I4 which limits the depth towhich the card descends into the card holder. The abutment is positionedby a. slide I65 guided upon the bar I91 and raised and lowered by an armI62, in a manner fully described in my Patent No. 2,281,998. The slideI65 is connected to the abutment bar 3 I4 by lugs I65b engaging in slots3I4a of the abutment bar. The .bell crank I95 is pivotally mounted onthe carriage I65. At the lower end of the bail I96 is connected an armI98 which is moved to the rear upon operation of the bail I96. The armI98 is provided with a notch point I98a which engages on the upper edgeof a slot I99a (Fig. 9) in a lever I99 and carries this lever to therear also. Lever I99, in its movement to the rear, closes a pair ofcontacts 209 which com- A latch point 2| Ia on the end of arm 2I I ismoved down clear of the bottom edge of the hammer operating lever 2I2.This arm I90 is fixed to the shaft 2I0 whereas lever 2|] is free on thisshaft and therefore a spring I 90a is provided to keep these members inclose relation and to bias the lever 2 toward its latching position.When lever 2I2 is released as described above, a strong spring 2I3operates on a bracket 202 connected with this lever to pull the lowerportion of the lever to the rear and cause the upper part to moverapidly to the front, lever 2I2 being pivotally mounted on a shaft 2I5.Loosely mounted on shaft 2 I5 is the hammer 220 itself and is normallypositioned against an ear 2I2a on the upper end of lever 2I2 by a spring2| 8. The brisk, forward movement of lever 2I2 is imparted through theear 2I2a to the hammer 220. The operation is such that whereas the upperpart of lever 2I2 moves only a certain distance ahead, as determined bythe lower end of this lever striking against a buffer stop 2I9, thehammer itself springs ahead under momentum and strikes the card which ispositioned between the hammer and the type wheels, thereby effecting aregistration of the time on the card as manifested by the type wheels. AU-shaped lever 203 (Fig. 6) has one end in the path of the hammer lever2 I 2 so as to be operated on each tripping of lever 2I2. The other endof the U-shaped lever 203,

' moves against a bell 204 to give a ringing sound to each recording.This is generally desired by employers so as to indicate that aregistering operation of the recorder is taking place. The tripping ofthe hammer 220 occurs almost instantaneously and is therefore fastenough to prevent any possibility of error in position of registrationby the operator removing the card very rapidly. Upon completing theregistration, the hammer i moved back a slight distance by the spring2I8 and then the operating lever 2I2 and the hammer 220 are restored bythe drive motor 60 (Fig. 10) in a manner which will now be described.

At the right extremity of shaft 2I0 is a latch member 223 (Fig. 4) whichis fixed to shaft 2I0 so as to be moved with the shaft as the latter isrocked by the action of the solenoid 205. This movement of arm 223releases a pawl 224 and permits it to engage the ratchet 53. The upperend of latch member 223 operates the motor contacts 56 to start themotor. The motor drives a worm 64 (Fig. 3) meshing with a worm wheel 62secured to a shaft 63. The ratchet 53 is tightly screwed on to athreaded portion 6| of the v shaft 63. A large cam 225 rotatably mountedon shaft 63, carries the pawl 223 and rotates with the ratchet when thepawl is engaged. A cam follower 226 cooperates with the cam 225, and theupper part of this cam follower 226 operates against the motor contacts56 to maintain them closed during one revolution of the cam 225. This isnecessary becauselatch member 223 is moved back to normal along withshaft 2 l0 upon the deenergization of solenoid 205, which occurs almostimmediately, and the motor contacts tend to open. During the course ofthe revolution of cam 225, the hammer 220 is restored to normal by theaction of a crank arm 230 formed with a ring at the lower end soas toenclose the periphery of an eccentric cam 23I which is attached to theface of a cam 225. this movement is to rock the hammer shaft 2I5counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 4 so as to move an arm 20I (Fig. 5)against the shoulder 202 of lever 2I2 and force the lower part of thislever past the latch point 2I Ia of the U-shaped arm 2 which has movedup into a latching position under the urging of spring Ia.

In order to prevent the hammer from tripping more than once for onedepression of the card a knock-off member 235 (Fig. 8) is provided toforce the arm I98 down immediately after the print contacts 200 havebeen closed so that the latch point I99a of this arm is lowered to clearthe engaging edge of the slot in the contact operating arm I99. Theknock-oi! member 235 is fixed to the shaft 2I0 and is connected to leverI99 by a spring 232. This member is also connected with the arm I 98 bya spring 233. The bias of these springs 232 and 233 keeps the upper endI99b of lever I99 normally against a portion of the frame 3I9 of themachine as a stop.

When atime card has been inserted properly for a printing operation tooccur contacts 200 are closed completing a circuit (see Fig. 10) fromthe line through the print control solenoid 205 as follows: terminal280, conductor 288, contacts 236, solenoid 205, contacts 200 now closed,to terminal 28L Then, soon after solenoid 205 is energized it becomesdeenergized by the opening of contacts 236. Contacts 56 now becomeclosed to complete the motor circuit to operate the motor 60 and restorethe print mechanism which was released by the solenoid 205. Throughoutone revolution of the motor driven shaft 63, the cam 225 holds thecontacts 236 open and disables the print magnet 205. The circuit of theprint magnet is not restored to ready condition until after the hammerhas been latched in cocked position,

While there have been shown and described and pointed out thefundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a singlemodification it will be understood that various omissions andsubstitutions and changes in the form and details of the deviceillustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. It is theintention,-therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the-scope ofthe following claims. I

What is claimed is:

1. In a time recorder, a printing mechanism including a type carrierhaving a series of type thereon and a platen carrying member forstriking said type to effect printing on a sheet inserted between thetype and the platen, a spring normally biasing the platen member towardsaid type, a latch for maintaining said member normally in a cookedposition against the biasing force of the spring, an electromagnet foroperating said latch, a sheet-controlled switch for energizing theelectromagnet upon insertion of the sheet to cause release of the platenmember from the latch for printing movement under the impetus of thebiasing spring, electromagnetic restoring means for restoring the platenmember to its cocked position, means controlled by said member duringits printing movement for causing operation of the electromagneticrestoring means for a period sufficient to restore the said member, andmeans also controlled by the platen member for rendering the magnetnon-respon- The result of sive to the sheet-controlled switch uponrepeated insertions of the sheet during the period of operation of theelectromagnetic restoring means.

2. In a time recorder, a printing mechanism including time type wheelsand a, printing hammer for striking said type wheels to effect printingon a sheet inserted between the type wheels and the hammer, a. springnormally biasing the hammer toward the said type wheels, a latch formaintaining the hammer normally in a cocked position against the biasingforce of the spring, electromagnetic means for operating said latch,heet-controlled means for energizing the electromagnetic means uponinsertion of the sheet to cause release or the hammer from the latch forprinting movement under the impetus oi the biasing spring, meanscontrolled by said electromagnetic means upon energization forimmediately deenergizing the said electromagnetic means, a secondelectromagnetic means ior restoring the hammer to its cocked position,means controlled by the hammer duringv its printing movement for causingoperation of the second electromagnetic means for a period suflicient torestore the hammer, and means also controlled by said hammer formaintaining the first mentioned electromagnetic means deenergizedregardless of the operation of the sheet controlled means upon repeatedinsertions of the sheet during the period of operation of said secondelectromagnetic means.

3. In a time recorder, a printing mechanism including time type wheelsand a printing hammer coacting therewith to effect printing on a recordcard inserted between the type wheels and the hammer, a spring normallybiasing the hammer toward said type wheels, a latch for maintaining thehammer normally-"in a cooked position against the biasing force of thespring, an electromagnet for operating the latch, circuit connectionsfor said magnet including card-controlled contacts for energizing thesaid magnet upon insertion of the card to cause release or the hammerfrom the latch for printing movement under the impetus of the biasingspring and a normally closed switch, a contact operating levercontrolled by the magnet upon energization for immediately breaking thecard-controlled contacts to deenergize said magnet, an electric motorfor restoring the hammer to its cocked position, a normally open switchclosed by the hammer as an incident to its printing movement forinitiating operation of said motor, said hammer simultaneously causingthe opening of the normally closed switch, holding means operated by themotor for maintaining the normally open switch closed for a period oftime sufllcient to restore the hammer and for concurrently maintainingthe normally closed switch open to insure the continued deenergizationof the magnet during the hammer restoring period regardless of repeatedoperations of the card controlled contacts during said period.

4. In a time recorder, a printing mechanism including a type carrierhaving type thereon and a printing hammer to make an impression from thetype on a sheet inserted between the type and the printing hammer, aspring normally biasing the printing hammer toward said type, a latchbiased toward operative position for maintaining said hammer normally ina cocked position against the biasing force of said spring,electromagnetically operated means for retracting said latch to releasesaid hammer, trip operated means for energizing said latch retractingmeans, means set in operation upon each release of said hammer forrestoring said hammer to cocked positionafter completion of its printingstroke, said restoring means returning to inoperative position aftercooking said hammer to clear the FREDERICK QUINTUS RAST.

